The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-01

equity, courage, forntude anu true
manhood, deem it privilege TO sever
their connection with the university
until such corrupt men ss B ilch and
st hsr are removed from its head"
D.. Sitter was nos6t the university
when tie reporter called, but al or
di gent inquiry the following was
elected as the position OF the presi-
d. mt and treasury. The local board
has no jurisdiction whatever over mat
terra at the university, and rs both DR..
Sitter and Mr.. Batch hold their sp.
pointments under the New York
board the president refuses to make
any defense of bis cause bsfore the
local body, therefore the investigation
was purely ex parte and in no wise
justice to the officers. The origin of
the trouble is thus stated by the
friends OF Dr. Sitter: some time ago
complaints were made to the Pfesi-
dent that some OF the female students,
after going to their rooms in the
evening and srraying themselves in
their night clothes, would sally
forth into the halls in full view OF the
windows and of the male students.
The president asked the fem lie stu
dents to remain in the chapel one
evening after the affair had come to
his ears, and there demonstrated with
them and requested them in the name
OF their womanhood to put stop to
such practices. A few evenings after
this Miss Balch, daughter of the
M 10 80
in the university, had occasion
to go into the hall in the dark in
search of a music book. While there
the figure Of a woman in her night
clothes, who passed through the hall,
frightened Miss Balch 80 badly that
she screamed and ran away in terror,
not before she had recognized
the figure as that Of the
young womsn who aiterward
appeared as Mr.. Balch's accuser.
Miss Balch at once informed her
tther, aud he, after telling DR.. st fl
OF the occurrence, said to the young
woman: sit would serve you right if
should @ up in the dark and frighten
You ae you frightened my daughter
This remark is strenuously claimed to
be the basis for the whole attack on
Mr.. B,lcb, After Dr.. SITTER declined
to recognize the authority of the local
Board the matter was referred TO the
New York Board, and alter they had
Investigated it and taken a mass of
testimony they upheld Mr.. Stiff sr aud
the treasurer. Out OF this came the
present unfortunate condition of sf-
fairs, the friends of the president
claiming that the whole matter was
engineered and carried through by four
or five dissatisfied and mutinous stu
dents who coerced the others into
upholding them. Ia fact, it is said
that several of those who have signed
pspsrs and protests afterward told
DR.. st far that they did 80 under
pressure aud that they were in fear of
bodily injury unless they stuck to the
others. Again it is said that the feel
ing against DR.. Sitter is founded
on the fact that he will
not send his children to the univer-
sity, this refusal on his part being
taken as an insult by the colored stu
dents, as meaning that DR.. st fer does
not believe in social equality between
the whites and negroes. The charge
is also made against the local board
that they have never visited the uni
yersity except on exposition days, and
know absolutely nothing about the
management of the institution.
Further, it is stated that
several very prominent gentlemen,
residents of this city, who have visit
ed the school many times, are loud in
their praise of DR.. Stfler's manage
ment, and that they have written him
letters of the heartiest Endorsement.
The young eolored woman who is
mentioned as having been insulted by
Mr.. Balch is Miss Libbg, and comes
from Memphis.